Quoting KingAirMan (Thread starter):Does anyone know how an American pilot can work in the EU for a European based carrier ?

There are several ways it can happen.

First, you could have dual citizenship or at least the right of abode in some countries. For instance, in the UK if you have a grandparent or parent from there you have the right of abode there and can live and work in the UK. In Ireland, if you have a parent, grandparent or greatgrandparent who was born there you have the right to Irish citizenship. However, in both cases there is a great deal of paperwork and documentation that has to be processsed.

The second case, is what is going on right now. FR is hiring 737 Captains through an agnecy. There is not enough qualified 737 Captains and FR will get the necessary work permits for employment. So, if you find a company willing to sponsor you and get your work permit you could work and live in the EU.

Wow thank you very much! My father was born in Germany and my grandfather in Ireland. This may verywell help me. If I get dual citizenship in Ireland, will I then have the right to work anywere in the EU ? I would really like to fly for a European Carrier.

Quoting KingAirMan (Reply 2):Wow thank you very much! My father was born in Germany and my grandfather in Ireland. This may verywell help me. If I get dual citizenship in Ireland, will I then have the right to work anywere in the EU ? I would really like to fly for a European Carrier

Yes, if you get citizenship in Ireland you can live and work anyplace in the EU. However, you have the problem of licensing. The process to convert a FAA to JAA is not an easy task. I wouldn't say the FAA license is worthless, but it's pretty close in this case.

Since your father was born in Germany you might want to see if you are infact a German citizen already. If Germany has that right, which I think it does for males, than that would be the easiest option.

Quoting PhilSquares (Reply 3):The process to convert a FAA to JAA is not an easy task. I wouldn't say the FAA license is worthless, but it's pretty close in this case.

Kind of off topic but if I had a private pilot liscence in the U.S., would I not be allowed to rent/fly a plane in Europe. What if you were 737 type rated and were applying to FR would that be totally different.

Just marry one of the many gorgeous girls from Bratislavia, Slovenia. Instant right to work. Now the JAR is another story. You have to do 14 exams. If you got airline hours, you only have to do a sim check after the exams are finished. Funny thing is, each JAR country can issue their own validation which allows you to fly only their registered airplanes. I've had German and Irish validations on my FAA licenses. Those expire after six months though. Validations have been impossible to get since the past 12 months. I'd go back to my first suggestion. Beautiful BTS girl.

Quoting Phxplanes (Reply 4):Kind of off topic but if I had a private pilot liscence in the U.S., would I not be allowed to rent/fly a plane in Europe. What if you were 737 type rated and were applying to FR would that be totally different.

I couldn't tell you about the PPL but if you were typed on the737 and had hours on it, you could get a validation. The validation allows you to use your FAA license for one year. During that year you would have to accomplish all the tests to convert your FAA to a JAA/UK license. I did that several years ago, I can't remember the basic numbers, but you have to have a certain number of PIC hours (over 1500) in large aircraft. I had substantially more than that, so all I had to do was take three of the 14 papers and on my next base check I had the UK CAA come in and watch. That was it, but if you don't have experience (as PIC) it is a long process.

Hi KingAirMan, here's a couple links that may help you get started. It's not an easy process, laws have become much more restrictive over the past decade or so, but you'll only know for sure about your case if you contact the Irish or German embassy/consulate nearest you. Good luck!

Quoting Detroitflyer (Reply 9):also do american pilots flying trans-con flights for american carriers, need those European licenses??

Since the planes are N-registered, with a US operating certificate, they don't. Just the US license. I've heard that some flight clubs in the UK have N-registered planes for exactly that purpose, but I don't know whether that's true or not. Regardless of what license you have, the airspace is different, and that and the ATC system takes gettting used to.

I assume you mean trans-atlantic flights, of course, since trans-con would be domestic.

smokinl1011, welcome to my respected users list! your information was great. You really went above any beyond and I really appreciate you doing so! German citizenship will not be to hard for me to obtain, except for all of the documents and paperwork. My oppurtunities in the aviation industry will be much greater with a right to work and do buisness in the EU. Thank you for all of your help. Anymore info on anything from anyone would be appreciated!

Well, I called the Consulate. Apparently, My greatgrandfather will not work as mentioned in the top of the thread. My father could get irish citizenship, but I cannot. I tried the loophole lf my father getting it , then me getting it from my father, but he would of have to had citizenship prior to my birth. Now, Reguarding German citizenship, My father would have had to been a citizen when I was born. Unforunatley, he was born in Germany, has a german birth certificate, but was not a citizen. The websites are decieving. I dont know if getting a dual citizenship will be possible now.

Can an American accept the citizenship of another country without threatening their existing US citizenship? I was of the understanding that the US recognized dual citizenship IF US citizenship comes second, but not the other way around. Can anyone clarify?

Quoting Pope (Reply 16):Can an American accept the citizenship of another country without threatening their existing US citizenship? I was of the understanding that the US recognized dual citizenship IF US citizenship comes second, but not the other way around. Can anyone clarify?

There's a difference between getting dual citizenship and getting the US to recognise it. So there's nothing to stop you getting citizenship of another country (so long as their rules don't require renouncing your current citizenship) and just not telling the US authorities. US citizens have to enter the US as a US citizen (rather than on any other citizenship they have) in theory they would never have to know. Naturally if you wanted them to recognise your dual citizenship (whcih as I understand is where the grey area arises) you would have to tell them.

Quoting Aviator27 (Reply 5):Just marry one of the many gorgeous girls from Bratislavia, Slovenia. Instant right to work.

Actually no. Most EU15 states (with the exception of the UK, Ireland and (I think) Sweden) have restricted the right citizens of the new member countries to live and work there. Kind of goes against the spirit of free movement of goods and labour if you ask me, but it's their loss (especially given the boost to the economy they would get).

Quoting KingAirMan (Reply 14):Unforunatley, he was born in Germany, has a german birth certificate, but was not a citizen.

how does that work out??

also if u really wanted 2 work in the EU, you could always go the immigration route. i dunno y u would wanna work there though... there are too many different languages, rules etc....
also if u wanted to keep U.S. citizenship, u would still have to pay taxes to the american gov (i think)....
i do believe there are plenty of regional carriers hiring.

Well , Apparently he just was never a citizen, he claims he doesnt hold the citizenship , possibly because he was only in Germany for a few months after his birth. He could reclaim his citizenship, but I do not know if that would help me. I doubt it. .

I have always been fascinated by European aviation and the airlines they have across the pond. I would really love to fly for Ryan Air or any one else for the matter. Any more advice would be greatly appreciated .

Every country makes their own rule on how to earn, gain and lose citizenship. German laws do not confer German citizenship "simply" because you were born in Germany. There is a heap of second-generation immigrants in Germany who are not German...

Quoting PhilSquares (Reply 3):
Since your father was born in Germany you might want to see if you are infact a German citizen already. If Germany has that right, which I think it does for males, than that would be the easiest option.

German citizenship requires at least one parent (does not matter if father or mother) beeing German citizen. If that was not the case, forget about it.

Next, Germany does not allow dual citizenship unless your other citizenship is from a country like Israel where you can pick up citizenship anytime, if Jewish or Iran, whoch doesnot let anyone out of citizenship. People born to US/German parents usually have to decide on their 18th birthday which citizenship they want. OK, I know there are ways around that.

But, if you have a job and your employer proves that there are no EU citizens suitable and available, you may eventually get a permit. There are lots of expats working in the EU,unfortunately, there are still a lot of unemployed aircraft drivers as well.